18th March 2004, 11:08 PM
Fittisize Wrote:That's long ago though. Bands these days are lucky to sell 1 million records and then fizzle out, much less 20,000,000 spanning four different albums over 8 years.
Well, that's true. RATM probably does outsell many of today's one-hit wonders. But that's as much an indication to how wretched modern music is as how appealing Rage is to anyone.
Quote: Tom Morello was an innovator. The sounds he makes are so unlike any guitarist, ever. Who else from the 70's, 80's, and 90's can say that they've done anything different with the guitar that everybody else hasn't already done? Songs like "Microphone Fiend" and "Calm Like a Bomb" (played at the end of Matrix Reloaded), excellent songs. It sounds completely apart from any rock music out there.
I can think of two.
Roger McGuinn of The Byrds, and his mastery of the twelve-string Rickenbacher.
And in one Zep concert, I think it was Royal Albert Hall in 1970 (must see the DVD again), Jimmy Page played a good ten-minute solo on the lead with a fiddle bow.
And I mentioned Jaco Pastorius earlier. He must be heard to be believed. Even if you don't like jazz, you have to hear his bass skills.
Quote: That's not the target age, despite what you have heard/read/thought?
"Some of those that burn crosses/ are the same that hold office"
RATM is not for angry teens who hate their parents. Korn is a band for angry teens.
I've run an electronics department for three years. I can honestly say I've never sold a Rage CD to anyone older than 20. If they aren't all "I hate the world" teenagers, those that aren't are "I hate the establishment" teenagers. And people usually grow up and forget about that garbage once they get out into the real world. They realize that they can't live a good life unless they play the game, and trying to bring down the system is not only futile, it's silly. And that's as it should be.
Quote: They are activists. What better way to get a message across then sign with a label that will get millions of people to hear it...ANYWAYS you can like making money and dislike a purly Capitalist government. I like money. But I wouldn't like living in a purely-capitalist nation. Get my drift? On each of RATM's CDs, they have whole sections in the lyrics or the inside of the CD case devoted to ACTION. About 20 websites and references are listed for the listeners to seek out and fight their fight. These include: National Commison for Democracy in Mexico, International Concerned Famly and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, Women Alive, International Defense of the Lord Peltier Committee, UNITE! and etc.
You can't hate truly hate capitalism if you benefit from it so well. I'm sorry. That message of theirs is a disguised sales pitch. I hope when you realize that, it doesn't hurt you too much. Even the 'activism' they participate in is a means to one end: Selling records, selling merchandise (incredible how anti-capitalists mechandise so prolifically, isn't it?), and making money. Rage, and other commercial bands like them, are exactly what they claim to be against. That's why, even if their music did appeal to me, I could never claim to appreciate their message.
And I'll say the same things about music I like. Many of my favorite bands advocated drug use and free sex, which I do not agree with. I still love the music, but I'd never claim it was because I agreed with the sociopolitical statements within the songs. It's bullshit. I don't like the idea of John Lennon 'getting high with a little help from his friends', but I still listen to and love the Beatles because they were incredible musicians, not because I'm looking to them for something to believe in.
If you like Rage's musical talent, more power to you. I don't have a problem with that, even if I don't like their music. But be honest with yourself: Their message is meaningless.
YOU CANNOT HIDE FOREVER
WE STAND AT THE DOOR
WE STAND AT THE DOOR